Broken Bonds Sequel
Three years prior
The air in the room was thick and heavy. Despite the open window and the cool autumn breeze which filled the room, Sasuke had the feeling to suffocate. His sweaty hands fidget behind his back and he looked down, afraid to meet the eyes of his father, whom sat behind his desk, holding his mid-year report firmly, while his dark eyes observed the card meticulously.
He knew he was in trouble when he had looked at his report card after his Sensei hand it out. It was his third year at the academy and he was always top of the class, until now... His grades slipped immensely those past months. But so many things happened that young Sasuke still tried to figure out to find a way to deal with the new situation in his life and the loss of his beloved mother. He had difficulties to focus in school, was sluggish in his training and did his homeworks only reluctantly. On some days he wasn´t even hungry and if it wasn´t for the fact that his father practically forced him to eat, he would rather skip dinner. He was still grieving even if he was too young to understand it.
"Despite what you may think I don´t want to be angry with you." Fugaku said and Sasuke bit his lip not daring to look up. "But this is really impudence."
Out of the corner of his eye he noticed how the man stood up and his he chewed his lip nervously. Although his grades dropped, he wasn´t the bottom of his class. His grades were still average. But average was hardly a achievement for an Uchiha.
"Are you even the slightest bit ashamed to present me something like that? What are you doing at school at all? Goofing around with your academy peers?! While you are supposed to work and learn, you waste your time with foolish nonsense."
"No father. I really don´t misbehave in school!" He protested, but still not daring to look up.
"Really? Then how do you explain this?" His father throw his report card angrily on the table.
"I... I don´t know..."
"You know very well. You don´t take the academy serious at all. Maybe I was too indulgent with you lately. But believe me that this will end now. Unbelievable that you have the audacity to deliver something like that at home. You should be ashamed! Being lazy and distracted is not something I tolerate from my son."
"I´m not..." Sasuke said but was interrupted immediately.
"So you aren´t sloppy with your training and studies lately? And you better not lie to me boy."
He swallowed hard, feeling small and cowed by his father´s powerful and intimidating aura. Sasuke always feared his father when angry, but after his mother died it become worse for him, because he was suddenly forced to interact with him so much. Although he loved and admired his father very much, he couldn´t help but was afraid of him somtimes. Because whenever the man called him in his study to inquire after his day or look at his homeworks, he found always something to be angry with him.
Unable to find the right words to answer, the boy shook his head sadly. Fugaku was right he had neglected his studies but for different reasons as the man asumed.
"At least you have the decency to admit it honestly." The clan head said dryly and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "But that´s no excuse for your failure. You know better as to disappoint me like that. You know what I expect from a member of my clan, what I expect from my son. You´re supposed to be brilliant not some average fool who is too lazy to continue his improving."
If there was something worse as to get on his father´s bad side than definitely to disappoint him. Sasuke never wanted to disappoint him. He longed for his acknowledgement and pride but since his mother died, he felt unable to find his way back in everyday life. She wasn´t even dead since three months yet.
"I´m sorry... I don´t want to disappoint you. But... I just miss mother..." The young boy said, looking up for the first time. His eyes were glowing with unshed tears and he prayed that Fugaku would have at least a bit sympathy for him now.
The Uchiha leader looked at him almost indifferent but there was light twitch of his mouth, before he suddenly turned around and looked at the window.
"I told you I don´t want any excuses." Fugaku said after a long moment. Sasuke was about to say something, but he continued immediately. "Look at your brother. Does he neglect his obligations? Does he use your mother as an excuse for slacking of in his duties?!"
"I wasn´t using her as a excuse..." He protested weakly, not having expected that reply. He just wanted his father to understand how he felt and why his grades slipped.
"Answer my question! Does Itachi neglect his obligations?"
"No sir..." He said lowly, knowing full well that his brother completed one mission after another recently. He wished he could be like him, knowing full well how proud their father was of his older son. While he seemed only be disappointed and angry at Sasuke.
"And what let you think you have the right to be it then?"
"I´ve no right..."
"Exactly." Fugaku said firmly and after a long moment finall turning around and facing him again. "You can forget every recreatiobal activity you have planned for your holidays. You´ll spend every single day with training and study."
"Yes sir..." He said sadly. Actually, his friend Naruto and some other kids had invited him for a camping trip but he could cancel it now. There it would helped him greatly to distract him a bit. But his father gave him a order and he would never dare to disobey him.
"This is my only warning. If you ever bring home such unacceptable results again, I promise you´ll be in so much trouble you can´t even imagine young man."
"It won´t happen again. I promise!"
"I hope so. Now go wash your hands and set the table so that we can have dinner." His father ordered and Sasuke escaped with fast steps from the room.
In the bathroom, he cleaned his tears with cold water and headed to the kitchen afterwards. While he placed the dishes carefully on the table, he remembered his mother standing on the stove, preparing dinner. Although the kitchen was empty for almost nine months now, the memories were too familiar and a new pang of sadness raised inside his chest.
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While Sasuke was aweful about his report card, his friend Naruto was delighted. He was never the best student, more the bottom of the class but he was hardworking and optimistic and there were two reasons why he worked especial hard the first part of the year.
The first one was, of course, he didn´t wanted to repeat the year and Naruto knew this was a topic since he entered the academy. It was the third year since he attended but he was always struggeling to keep up with his classmates. The other children were calling him stupid, even some of the teachers thought that about him. The problem was, the little blonde wasn´t unable to understand the lessons, he just had a hard time to focus and be quit for long periods. And sometimes he learned a bit slower than other kids, so what? It wasn´t as if he would never savvy what the teacher taught in the front. Besides he was a hard worker.
His mother taught him those past months personally one or two things. She understood his flaws and supported his strengthen. She was patient with him and repeated the exercises until he could do it faultless. She even told him that she struggled with similar problems during her academy time. So Naruto wasn´t very worried about his current level. His mother developed into the best kunoichi ever and he was glad she spend so much time teaching him. She was a Jonin before his father became Hokage one year ago, but now she was only at home and didn´t went on missions anymore.
The second reason was the promise his father made to him. If his grades would be better, they would spend the whole day together. First they would head out for ramen and afterwards go to the movie house and watch an awesome movie about super strong shinobi heros. He couldn´t believe his luck and practically run the entire day home. Today was one of the best days ever, because Naruto really had managed to enhance his grades. Not much but it was a beginning.
Since his dad became Hokage, he didn´t spend much time with Naruto anymore. He was hardly at home anymore. Before that his parents always alternated with spending time with him. While his mom would be on a mission, his dad was at home and if he was gone than she would be there. But now his father was always away and his mother gave up being a kunoichi in order to take care of Naruto. It made him often sad, because he missed his father. They used to have a lot fun together but today was different. Finally they would get the chance to spend some quality time with eachother.
Soon arriving at his house, the boy stormed inside, not even bothering to remove his shoes first.
"I´m home!" He yelled loudly.
"Welcome home Naruto-chan." His mother stepped into the hallway and greeted him kindly but then scolded him with played sterness for still wearing his shoes.
After removing them obediently, he stormed towards the woman, report card already in hand and excited to show it.
"Honey that´s great!" She smiled after observing the card. She placed a firm kiss on his cheek. "I´m so proud of you, you know."
Naruto pulled away, looking at his mother with a childish pout. "Don´t do it! I´m not a baby!"
"I know, I know. You´re my super strong future Hokage."
"Sounds better." He agreed. "And I´ve earned my reward. Where is daddy? He promised he would spend the day with me!"
"Don´t worry. He´s just having a meeting but will return soon. He hadn´t forget about your plans. He told me he kept clear the whole evening for you."
"Awesome!" Naruto cheered and his blue eyes sparkled with excitement.
After eating a snack with his mother, she informed him that she would visit some friends today while her son and husband would be out together. Of course he didn´t mind. He knew how hard Kushina worked for her family and he was happy if she could find some free time for herself.
"And don´t stuff yourself with ramen until you vomit. You´ll only get sick else. Please eat moderate." She admonished later when she was ready to leave.
"Yes mom!" Naruto salutes, making his mother laugh.
"Than I´m glad. Your father should be here soon. But don´t give him a hard time and behave, you know he´s probably tired from work."
"I´ll. I´m just happy we can finally spend some time together. I really missed him, you know."
"I know and I´m glad too." Kushina said and placed a soft kiss on his blonde head before she left.
When she was gone, Naruto tried to distract himself with watching TV. His father should be here soon and until then he could enjoy some of his favourite Tv shows. Smiling to himself he leaned comfortable on the couch, a bag of potato chips in his lap and enjoying himself. It was a good thing his mother was out, otherwise she wouldn´t allow him to eat in the living room. And Kushina wasn´t a big fan of all the junk food either.
He was so consumed in the action movie he watched, that he didn´t noticed how the time passed. It was only when the show finished and a stupid and boring documentation began, that he turned the TV off. Ignoring the mess he had made with his potato chips, he stood up and went to the kitchen for something to drink. But one look at the clock let him stop in his tracks.
Naruto frowned when he saw that it was already seven o´clock pm. His father should´ve already arrived here. But surely he would come soon. His dad would never broke such an important promise to him. Telling himself that he would probably be here soon, he grabbed a bottle of orange juice and returned into the living room. Maybe he could watch some more TV until his dad would arrive. Usual he wasn´t allowed longer than one hour per day to watch TV but he could take advantage of Kushina´s absence.
The time passed and no father arrived. In the meantime it was dark outdoors. Naruto went outdoors sitting on the doorstep and looking for his father. It was cold but he didn´t wanted to go inside again. His dad had promised him to spend time with him today. And he was the Hokage, that meant he would never break a promise. Especial not to Naruto.
More time passed until he didn´t could estimate the time any longer. It was deep dark and he was shivering from the cold but refusing to leave his post. He was still convinced his father would come. He couldn´t have forget his promise. Not when Naruto had worked so hard to get better grades this half year! But the ascending tears in his eyes told him otherwise and he felt a knot in his chest when he slowly began doubting his Hokage father.
No! He wouldn´t forget it! He reminded himself firmly, shaking his head in order to get rid of these thoughts.
But Minato didn´t come. Naruto stared ahead of the street until his eyelids became heavy and it was too much of a bother to keep them open. He fell asleep on the doorstep. At least the sleep freed him from the pain of this disappointment.
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Hi,
This is the first chapter here. I want to show more from Naruto´s and Sasuke´s childhood and how they relationship with their fathers (family) became so torn. But I´ve planned to alternate with the time. The coming chapter will probably play after broken bonds and how Naruto and Sasuke deal with their return and family. Also I want to write abit more about how team 7 deals with it. But there will come chapters from their childhood too.
Please let me know what you think and review ;)
